One of the purposes of this website is to warn both believers and unbelievers of various spiritual enemies in the world that would lead us astray from the truth, from godliness, from moral living, and from total devotion to the Lord Jesus. While we want to offer a positive message of love, hope, and joy, we also are aware of the many different devices that Satan uses to lead us to compromise the way of the Lord.

Paul gave instruction to the Corinthian saints, so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes (2 Cor. 2:11). We are not to be exploited by or taken advantage of the devil (Net Bible). Today Satan seeks to influence people and destroy their faith and commitment by means of his subtle tricks, tactics, and temptations. By means of our True Discipleship website, we hope to warn against these schemes or designs (ESV) of Satan, the evil one.

In another place, the apostle declares, Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Eph. 6:11). Again, we can see that these schemes are from the evil one who would destroy our soul! His craftiness must not lead us astray (Net) from the pure truth of the Word of God! We want the articles in the True Discipleship website to fortify you in your fight against these spiritual schemes that would destroy you.

Notice yet another warning: We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). The ESV says, We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. Again, we note the Net Bible: We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey. As in Pauls day two thousand years ago, we are faced with many philosophical and theological speculations and ideologies that would oppose the knowledge of God and His Word. By means of these web pages, we hope to tear down the speculations, arguments, and opinions raised up by unbelievers so that we may encourage all readers to believe and obey Jesus Christ as Lord!

Another warning says it well. Paul writes, See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ (Col. 2:8). The Net Bible renders this verse as follows: Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Paul discovered that an incipient Gnostic philosophy along with some aspects of Judaism was encroaching on the body of Christ in Colossae. He warned these believers of this very real danger that would lead them from Jesus Christ. Likewise, with the help of the Lord, we hope that this website will warn against all deceitful philosophies that rest on human traditions and are inspired by the enemy of our soul!

One final warning will suffice. Paul says that in latter times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron (1 Timothy 4:1-2). It may be that the apostle is referring to the Gnostic infiltration and influence that was beginning to destroy the faith of some in the first century. Like that early time, today there is the serious danger of influence by deceitful spirits sent by the devil and dangerous doctrines that he inspires. Whole religious movements are built on some of these satanically inspired teachings! We want to establish you in the faith of Jesus Christ and the truth of God so that you will be able to detect the true from the false!

As we earlier stated, we do want to present a positive message of faith in Jesus Christ, an encouraging word of praise for God our Father, and practical articles that would instruct you on how to apply the Scriptures to your daily life. On the other hand, to be faithful to the Lord and His word, there must be an accompanying word of warning against all spiritual and theological counterfeits that profess to be Christian but are really deceitful schemes of the enemy.

With this in mind, you might consider some of these isms that are so prominent today. Hopefully, we will be able to show the fallacy, folly, and falsehood of these and other contemporary dangers:

· Secularism

· Humanism

· Relativism

· Atheism

· Agnosticism

· Denominationalism

· Materialism

· Intellectualism

· Judaism

· Legalism

· Hedonism

· Evolutionism

· Antinomianism

· Modernism

· Liberalism

· Ecclesiasticism

· Nationalism

· Patriotism

· Emotionalism

· Ritualism

· Formalism

· Externalism

· Quietism

· Buddhism

· Hinduism

· Catholicism

· Protestantism

· Institutionalism

· Biblicism

· Hierarchalism

· Egalitarianism

· Egocentrism

· Ethnocentrism

· Dispensationalism

· Ultradispensationalism

· Sectarianism

· Anglicanism

· Fundamentalism

· Gnosticism

· Clericalism

· Calvinism

· Wesleyanism

· Arminianism

· Pentecostalism

· Scientism

· Emotionalism

· Rationalism

· Naturalism

· Anti-supernaturalism

· Sabellianism

· Arianism

· Unitarianism

· Universalism

· Skepticism

These are a few of the isms that presently come to mind. You may think of others that need to be treated in this present diverse age. May God help us to stand for the truth, regardless of the consequences and regardless of those who may oppose. May the True Discipleship website be an aid in your own life and understanding, so that you may be better equipped to combat all speculations, opinions, traditions, and teachings that are in conflict with the pure Word of God.